BIRMINGHAM – Keeping Auburn volleyball's record unblemished, senior libero Bella Rosenthall was named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
Rosenthall led Auburn to pair of wins as the Tigers improved to 6-0 and off to the program's best start since the 2012 season. Auburn secured its fifth consecutive sweep with its 3-0 win over North Alabama, tying the program record for most sweeps to being a season that was originally set by the 1974 squad.
The Yorktown, Ind., native totaled a season high 25 digs against the Lions, just one shy of tying her career high. It marked the first time a Tiger has recorded at least 20 digs in a match since Rosenthall totaled 26 against Georgia on Oct. 20, 2019.
In Auburn's five-set thriller against Santa Clara, Rosenthall turned in another double-digit dig effort with 20. Offensively, she added eight assists for the Tigers.
She held a .903 reception percentage over the pair of matches with just three errors in her 31 targets.
Rosenthall is the only Tiger this season to recorded double-digit digs in all six matches. She currently leads the SEC and ranks 13th nationally with a 5.45 digs per set average. Rosenthall also ranks fourth overall in the league with 109 total digs this season.
The recognition is the first in Rosenthall's career. She is the first Tiger to be named SEC Defensive Player of the Week since Jesse Earl won the award on Sept. 25, 2017.
The undefeated Tigers continue their homestand this weekend, hosting their final nonconference tournament of the regular season. Auburn opens competition on Friday versus Florida A&M at 12:30 p.m. CT before returning to the court against Nicholls State at 8 p.m. CT. Friday's nightcap will be available on SEC Network+.